Friday, January 27, 2017

Anthologies are always hard for me to read and review. I
love reading them, and read many, but how to review several stories?

This book is electronic only (as far as I know) and
available for free download when one signs up for the daily digital magazine—also
free.

The stories were varied, and ranged from very short (I could
read the whole story on one screen of my phone to close to the 1000 word limit.
I only found one I didn't care for, and I'll go back to read it all the way
through at a later date. The writing seemed pretty good, I think I just wasn't
in the mood, or same place as the author.

Some of the stories bordered on horror, many had humor, and
all were well written. If you like flash fiction (1000 words or less) check out
Flash Fiction Magazine at https://flashfictionmagazine.com
and if you like the story, subscribe. Subscription is free, and so is the
anthology. Perfect little stories while waiting in the doctor's office, the bus
stop, or in line to buy groceries. Trust me.

I grew up in Portland, Oregon and I admit, McIntyre's
creation of Dovetail Cove is so real, I looked it up on the map. It isn't
there. I knew it wasn't, but I had to double check.

This series of books is not linear. One may enter at any
place, and read in any order, thanks to the sneakiness and deviousness of the
author. The saga 'starts' here, but it really doesn't make a difference. Each
novel/novella is a stand alone, and each takes place in a different year.

Farrah is a young girl growing up with her father. Her
mother is on the mainland, and Farrah really doesn't understand why just that
she's not home. Farrah's Gran is dying, and Farrah likes to find stories to
bring Gran. She buys a 'mystery box' from a woman at the town market, and
discovers a dark story for Gran—and herself.

These books are not bedtime stories for your young children,
unless you feed them a steady diet of Twilight Zone re-runs. But they are
marvelous stories, well written and great fun, in a dark sort of way.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

I've read other McIntyre books, the Night Walk Men, and
though dark (advertised as such) thoroughly enjoyed them, so admit to looking
forward to my first dip into the Dovetail Cove series. Having been assured one
could enter the series with any book, that they all tie together but are not
linear, I entered the currents with Fled. I was not disappointed.

Charlie Scobie has lead an interesting life, and returns to
the island home of his new bride for their honeymoon. It is a place of darkness
for Charlie, and he is forced to face some things he'd rather forget, and in
fact thought he had.Or at least come to
grips with them.

Personally, I wonder if McIntyre didn't channel Rod Serling
for this story.

Friday, January 20, 2017

I first 'met' Ms Owens with her Moonlight Dragon books,
which I love. I then read one of her Pirate books, so I was aware she knows how
to toss spice into her pages, but this book was, well, ah, a wet panty book
from darned near page one to page last! Not, mind you, that I'm complaining.
I'm not. No. Not at all.

Ms. Owens lives in Las Vegas, and while I'm somewhat
comfortable with the idea that much of her books are nothing more than pure
imagination, well, she has a very healthy imagination. Personally, I'm glad she
does, and that she shares it.

This story was, in a word, Fun. It may not be so for
everyone, but if you have an open mind, a sense of humor, if male/male sex
intrigues you instead of turning you off, I think you'll enjoy the ride. The
writing is good, the characters developed (very developed), and the story fun
(I said that already, didn't I?). Admittedly, I probably wouldn't want to leave
it around where my teenagers might find it, but they're in their late 40s/early
50s, so I have no say over what they read.

Ethan is a young man whose life-long dream is to be an agent
with the FBI. Alas, he's also gay, and a submissive. He worked his way through
school, and works for a small detective agency in Indiana. While on a business
trip to Las Vegas, he meets Max, a dominant, wealthy, and owner of his own
detective agency. One thing leads to another, we get ups we get downs, in just
the right amounts before we get to the end. There are 10 books in the series
(at this time) and I look forward to reading them all.

Legalities first: I received a free copy of this book in
exchange for an honest review.

WARNING! Do not begin this book until you have a full pot of
coffee and enough time to read it all the way through to The End. Once again,
Ms. Owens has given us a marvelous one-sit read. She rates a space on your
bookshelf alongside Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Jim Butcher.

If you have not read the earlier books, I strongly suggest
you do. While they could probably be read as stand alone books, they will be
much more enjoyable if read in order:1.
Descended from Dragons, 2. Hunting Down Dragons, 3. Trouble with Gargoyles and,
4. Forged in Fire.

Poor Anne Moody. She is still cursed. The cameos in her pawnshop
constantly give her dire messages, the walls and ceiling of her bathroom drip
blood, something stomps forth and back on her roof at night. But, hey, it's
home. She inherited the Moonlight Pawn Shop from her uncle when he disappeared,
and she lives in the back. She deals in the mundane items people pawn for money
to spend in Las Vegas, but she also deals in magickal items. Nothing too
serious or heavy, but every so often, she's fooled. Oh, did I mention she is
also carries dragon blood in her veins? A dangerous thing to have.

Her boyfriend is a gargoyle. Human by night, stone statue by
day. Her best friend is a monkey shifter. And then there are the Oddsmakers.
They are uber magickal beings, and they do not like dragons. No, not at all.
They do not like wild magick they can't control. And they do not want anyone in
Las Vegas wielding magick without their knowledge and permission. How do you
keep a Dragon under wraps? They are also Evil.

Poor, cursed, Anne Moody. She thought her biggest problems
were the unseen and unknown Oddsmakers, who teleport her whenever they feel
like it to their underground lair to order her to do this or that, until she
was drugged, kidnapped, and woke in a secret US Military underground
prison/laboratory under investigation for High Treason. Yes, she meets the Men
in Black, up close and personal, and they were nothing like the guys in the
movie. Yes, the end of the world is coming, and only Anne Moody can save it,
and she's an unwilling guest of Uncle Same. Poor, cursed, Anne Moody.

The most awful thing about this book is, it is book 5 of a 5
book series. That means the series is now ended. All the loose ends are neatly
tied. We learn how Anne Moody became cursed, we learn what happened to Uncle
James, Orlaton, and the others. However, with Ms. Owens' imagination and
abilities, I hold high hopes there will be more books about the Moonlight Pawn
Shop, the neighbors, and of course my favorite alpha dragon, Lucky.